EMDR for OCD – Can It Help When You’re Stuck in Loops?
When OCD Won’t Let You Move On
Living with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) can feel like being trapped in a loop of fear, doubt, and exhausting rituals. Whether it’s checking, cleaning, seeking reassurance, or mentally reviewing, the cycle can dominate daily life. Traditional treatment, particularly Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) with Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP), is highly effective—but not everyone responds in the same way.
At The Tunbridge Wells Psychologist, we sometimes meet clients whose OCD is tangled up with earlier experiences—moments that left emotional scars, planted seeds of fear, or created a deep sense of shame. In these cases, EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing) can offer an additional or alternative path to healing.
This post explores how EMDR might help with OCD, what the research says, and when it could be the right approach.
What Is EMDR?
EMDR is an evidence-based therapy originally developed for PTSD. It helps people process distressing memories and reduce the emotional charge associated with them. Unlike traditional talking therapies, EMDR uses bilateral stimulation (like eye movements or tapping) to help the brain reprocess “stuck” experiences so they no longer feel threatening or emotionally overwhelming.
As the distress reduces, new, healthier beliefs often emerge—such as “I’m safe now” or “I’m not to blame.”
OCD and Trauma – A Hidden Link?
OCD isn’t always caused by trauma, but for many people, intrusive thoughts or compulsive behaviours began after a distressing event—or became worse in the aftermath. For example:
A child who was repeatedly told “you’ll make someone sick” might develop contamination fears.
An adult who went through a shaming experience might obsess over being seen as immoral or bad.
A near-miss accident might trigger checking rituals tied to safety.
In these cases, OCD isn’t just a chemical imbalance—it’s also a response to an emotionally unresolved experience. And that’s where EMDR may help.
How EMDR Might Help with OCD
OCD is usually maintained by a loop of obsession → anxiety → compulsion → temporary relief → obsession again. While ERP helps interrupt this loop behaviourally, EMDR works by reducing the emotional “charge” behind the obsession in the first place.
Here’s how EMDR might support OCD recovery:
Processing the Root: If the obsession is linked to a past event, EMDR can target that memory directly, helping the brain reprocess it so it no longer fuels fear or avoidance.
Reducing Shame: OCD often carries intense self-criticism (“What kind of person thinks that?”). EMDR can help shift these beliefs to something more compassionate.
Calming the Nervous System: EMDR includes grounding techniques that help reduce hyperarousal, making it easier to engage in CBT or ERP later.
Targeting Intrusive Images: For people with vivid mental imagery or “flash-forward” catastrophising, EMDR can help reduce their emotional grip.
What Does the Research Say?
While CBT with ERP is the most established treatment for OCD, recent studies suggest EMDR can be helpful—especially when combined with CBT or used in specific subtypes of OCD.
A 2011 study by Nazari et al. found EMDR reduced OCD symptoms in participants as effectively as CBT.
Marsden et al. (2018) reviewed case studies where EMDR helped clients whose OCD was trauma-linked or resistant to ERP.
The EMDR International Association now recognises OCD as a condition that may benefit from EMDR, particularly when standard approaches haven’t been fully effective.
It’s important to note: EMDR is not a stand-alone treatment for all OCD cases, but in many instances, it adds depth, especially when shame, trauma, or emotional overwhelm are present.
A Gentle, Tailored Approach
At our Tunbridge Wells clinic, we often take an integrative approach. For some clients, EMDR comes after a course of CBT. For others, we use it earlier—especially if a memory keeps showing up during therapy, or if there’s a clear traumatic link. Every person’s OCD is different.
Support in Tunbridge Wells and Kent
If you’re living with OCD and feel stuck—even after trying therapy—EMDR might offer a fresh way forward. At The Tunbridge Wells Psychologist, our Clinical Psychologists use CBT, ERP, EMDR, and compassion-focused approaches to help clients break free from OCD loops.
Whether your symptoms are rooted in fear, shame, or past experiences, we’re here to help you move toward freedom, one step at a time.
